By Sulaiman Jalloh
Sonoco Sierra Leone in partnership with Well Woman clinic has on Thursday, November 14, 2024 sensitized and screened about fifty (50) women at Bankolay community east end of Freetown the country’s capital.
The event marks the continuation of their breast cancer sensitization in communities they operate including wellington, pike street and Bankolay community.
In his opening statement, Mohammed Kamara mid-project support of Sierra Leone client town, said the event was important as it deals with everyone’s health especially breast cancer that has to do with women, saying the health of people should be prioritized. He added that breast cancer has killed wealthy people while encouraging people to note and work with the advice given to them by experts.
Mark Pritchard, Managing Director of Sonoco Sierra Leone, noted that his company has given opportunity to more than one hundred residents of the community, noting his company is part of the community whilst he reminded community members about his first visit and that they had promised employment for young people.
“Today we here for your health with our partners in health. What we are going to talk about here today is breast cancer and everyone is affected by cancer including my family,” he underscored, emphasizing that some of people don’t know about breast cancer and that they were there to informed women and girls in that part of city about the symptoms and dangers of breast cancer. He said the company would educate people about cancer and do screening to the ladies of Bankolay free of cost.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to informed others what they learnt and they should not he shy to visit doctors. “This is part of our cooperate social responsibilities to communities we operate” the GM narrated, saying Bankolay is one their main focus because the biggest flour factory in the country are under construction within the community while thanking the leaders of the community
Doctor Adijatu Salam, Health Sister well woman clinic said the Well Women Clinic has been in existence for over seventeen years and that their focus is women and girls’ health including scanning for pregnant women. She added that breast cancer has killed women more than any other disease while encouraging men to learn about the disease as it also affects them. “Not everything that happens to women’s breast is breast cancer,” she informed the beneficiaries, adding “there are good lumps and bad lumps”. She underscored that the bad lump causes cancer and the good lump doesn’t.
According to her, women with stress can cause shell enlargement something she is not good while encouraging them to able manage stress. She added that research has proved that lack of breast feeding can lead to breast cancer, noting continuous family planning can also contribute. “Research has proved that smoking and too much alcoholic drinking can lead to breast cancer” she pointed out.
For her part, Rebecca Marie Koroma, Chairlady of Bankoley Community Client town, said what Sonoco is great because this is the first time for people to come to the community to educate us about breast cancer, noting the company has also helped the young people of the community.
Joy Koroma one of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude, noting it was her first to learn about breast cancer and that she learnt a lot.